Folding couch.



J. HOEY.

FOLDING COUCH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.12, 1913.

1,095,503 Patented May 5, 1914.

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WITNESSES: INVEN'LOR J57??? Huey g M away h,

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JOHN HOEY, or SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

FOLDING COUCH.-

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 12, 1913.

Patented May 5 rent, Serial No. 784,341.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN flour, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco and State of Callfornia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Folding Couches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a folding couch.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, cheaply manufactured, easily operated folding couch which is so constructed that one of the bed spring supporting side rails may be automatically raised or lowered within the couch when this is opened or closed, thus providing sufficient clearance within the couch to receive the mattress and bedding.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, 1nwhich I Figure 1 is a cross section of the couch in the extended position. Fig. 2 is a plan view of same partly broken away. Fig. 3 is a cross section showing the couch in the folded position. Fig. 4 is a perspective view, partly broken away, showing the position of the side rail with relation to the guiding frame.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates a stationary, rigid, boxlike structure, having the inner side length and width to form a chair, sofa, davenport, or the like, which is adapted to be mounted upon casters 2 to make the structure easily movable. Secured by hinges 3 to the frame of the body portion A is a secondary box-like structure B which is adapted to be folded out, as shown in Fig. 1, to form a bed, or closed to form a seat, as shown in Fig. 3; the top portion of same being suitably upholstered, as at 4, for this purpose. Secured between the end frames of the foldable section is a side rail 5, to which one side of the bed spring 6 is secured, and slidably mounted between a pair of guide frames 7, secured in opposite corners of the stationary section A, is a slidably mounted side rail 8 to which the other side of the springs is secured. The guide frames are provided for the purpose of forming slots 9, into which projections 10, formed on the ends of the rail, extend. The frames are preferably formed of strap iron or like material which can be conveniently secured within the box-like structure, as indicated at 11 and 12, without interfering with the bedding or consuming any of the space required by same. The upper ends of the guide frames are slightly extended, as indicated at 13, to form pockets in which the projectlons 10 may rest when the bed is extended. The side rail 8 being elevated in this position is thus securely supported without the use of any locking latches or other complicated mechanism usually employed. The main box-like structure A may be provided with a suitable upholstered back rest and end frames (not here shown) to give the couch the appearance of a davenport or like structure, or may be otherwise provided with ornamentations to produce various appearances. The hinges 8, connecting the separating halves of the couch, are so positioned as to form a pivot point above the line of pull of the spring bottom 6, when this is extended, thus preventing accidental closing of the sections with relation to each other through the tension of the spring in the wire mattress. The outer face of the hinged section B may be provided with any suitable form of supporting legs, indicated at 14, to support the section when in the extended position.

In operation, when it is desired to open the sections out to form a bed, as shown in Fig. 1, it is only necessary to grasp the handle lt and lift the section B about the hinge 3 in the direction of arrow at until the section assumes the dotted line position indicated at 15. The moment the section B is sufficiently opened to produce a pull or tension on the spring bottom 6, it will be immediately transmitted to lift or pull the side rail 8 in an upward direction in the slot 9 until the projections 10 assume the upper position indicated in Fig. 1; this position being assumed when the projections 10 have been entirely elevated and projected into the pockets 13 formed in the guide frames and the hinge section B has assumed the dotted line position shown. From thispoint the section B is depressed into the full line position shown where it will be supported by the hinges 3 and legs 14*. The downward movement of the section B from the dotted line position to the full line position also produces the desired tension upon the spring bottom which will permit perfect freedom and flexibility of the mattress and the tension is also suflicient to prevent the projections 10, by which the side rail 8 is supported, from becoming disengaged from the pockets 13 in which they are supported while in the elevated position. Furthermore, it can be seen that any weight placed upon the mattress will only tend to increase the tension of the spring and further provide against any accidental disengagement of the projections 10 with relation to the supporting pockets 13 formed in the guide frames.

The mattress and bedding supported upon the flexible spring mattress will assume the position indicated in Fig. 3 when section B is folded up to form a seat; the side rail 8 being released and permitted to drop by its own weight to the bottom of the slots 9 the moment the tension of the bed spring is released. Sufficient clearance and room for the mattress and bedding is provided within the couch. The spring mattress is also re lieved of the tension while in this position, thus increasing the life and durability of same.

A folding couch constructed as here shown can be very cheaply manufactured, as

it is possible to produce a shallower structure than is usually provided, thus lessening the amount of material consumed in construction. The couch is neat in appearance and absolutely automatic and reliable in operation and takes less space than the usual form of structures heretofore provided. The materials and finish of the several parts of the couch are such as experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a folding couch, the combination of a stationary box-like frame, a seat section hinged to said frame, a spring mattress having one side secured to the seat section, a pair of guide frames secured in the stationary frame, a side rail slida-bly mounted in the guide frames to which the other side of the spring mattress is secured, and means formed in the guide frames to support the side rail when the hinged section is extended.

2. In a folding couch, the combination of a stationary box-like frame, a seat section hinged to said frame, a spring mattress having one side secured to the seat section, a pair of guide frames secured in the stationary frame, a side rail slidably mounted between the guide frames to which the other side of the spring mattress is secured, projections formed on the ends of the side rail extending into the guide frames, and pooh ets formed in the upper ends of the guide frames to support the side rail when the hinged section is extended.

3. In a folding couch, the combination of a stationary box-like frame, a seat section hinged to said frame, a spring mattress having one side fixedly secured to the seat section, a side rail slidably mounted in the stationary frame to which the other side of the spring mattress is secured, means for guiding the side rail upward within the stationary frame, and an automatic stop to prevent the return of the rail.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN HOEY.

Witnesses IRVINE SINNETT, W. HnALnY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

